Pakistan for UNESCO's role to resolve Kashmir dispute, restore human rights.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan has called upon the UNESCO to exercise its moral authority in pressing the Indian government to restore the fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and resolve this international dispute as per UN Security Council resolutions.

While delivering Pakistan's national statement at the 40th session of UNESCO General Conference being held in Paris, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood drew the world's attention towards dangerous trends where the intellectual, moral and legal basis for maintaining global peace is eroding and education and cultural values being undermined, said a press release received here Saturday.

The minister cited the example of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a manifestation of these dangerous trends, where over eight million Kashmiris had been locked down under curfew for more than hundred days, with their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms being trampled with impunity.

The minister also highlighted that education was a large casualty there with around 1.5 million Kashmiri students being unable to go to school.

He also expressed dismay at the decision of India's highest court, which virtually condoned the destruction of centuries old Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

The minister's statement was measured, bringing out facts that have already been widely documented by human rights organizations and international media. Importantly, it did not go beyond UNESCO's mandate.

By contrast, India, while exercising its right of apply to Pakistan...